The Anarchy

2025 · City Building

The Anarchy

Players portray English nobles loyal to King Stephen during the civil war of the 12th century. Over five rounds, players develop their domain, recruit forces, erect and upgrade defenses, and construct siege engines to attack strongholds held by rival factions. Tactical choices balance accumulating bravery, loyalty, influence, and military might against managing discontent among followers. Each round presents opportunities to defend against approaching Angevin armies, press offensives into enemy territory, and expand territorial control. The highest-scoring player at the end, based on the four key resources and stability, earns the largest reward from the king.

Players
1–4 best 1
Playing time
60–90 min
Age
13+
Complexity
3.9 / 5
8.8 on Ludoyafrom $65.00MedievalSolo / Solitaire GameScenario / Mission / Campaign GameChaining

On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
45
Plays logged
10
Players
2h 18m
Average play
14
In collections
19
On wishlists

8.8/10

from 3 Ludoya reviews

  • Fun10.0
  • Interaction8.0
  • Replayability8.0
  • Uniqueness8.0
  • Looks8.0
  • Accessibility8.0
Read the reviews and rate it

Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

When do we draft Path Cards and when do I actually get the workers/resources on them?

At round start you reveal one Path Card per player and each player picks one in the tent/turn order (or solo rules) (page 9). You only gain the workers and resources printed on that Path Card during the Production phase, then you tuck the Path Card beneath your Player Board (page 10).

How do filling boxes/tracks and Building levels work—are there order or left‑to‑right rules?

Most Tracks must be filled left-to-right and boxes with icons give the items printed when covered; Buildings must be constructed by filling required Leadership Row boxes and paying costs, and you cannot build larger Levels until the smaller Level has been completely filled (page 11).

What exactly happens in the Castle Defence phase—when do we pay food, deploy defenders, and discard workers?

First pay food equal to the round number (1 Discontent per missing Food), then deploy remaining Craftsmen, Soldiers and Knights to castle sides, after which any remaining Workers and Resources are discarded before revealing and resolving Attack Cards (pages 26–27).

How do I resolve Attack Cards and which defences work — do fortifications break?

Resolve Attack Cards from right to left, using the A–E letters on the card mapped to strengths on the Scenario Card to determine attack strength, and apply only the listed defences (Fortifications, Tactics, Workers, etc.); Fortifications absorb damage and do not break, Towers defend adjacent sides, and some attacks (e.g., Catapult/Trebuchet) cannot be defended by Fortifications or Workers (pages 28, 30).

Are Beer, Knights and other defenders consumed when used, and what happens after defence?

Workers used for defence are discarded to the supply when their strength is spent; Knights have 2 strength and, if only 1 is used, survive laid down with 1 remaining, while Beer may be given to a Craftsman/Soldier for +1 strength (each may consume at most 1 Beer) (page 29). After all attacks are resolved you gain Loyalty/Discontent per the Round’s Determination, retire surviving deployed units and gain 1 Serf per 3 discarded strength, then discard remaining Attack Cards (page 31).

Opens Ludoya's rules assistant, which reads this game's rulebook.

Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.